S.B. 126

1

TRANSPORTATION OF CHILDREN IN
2 KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE
3 2006 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Ed Mayne
6 House Sponsor: ____________
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill adjusts eligibility for state-supported elementary school transportation funding.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . adjusts the eligibility distance for state-supported elementary school transportation
14 funding from a student living within 1-1/2 miles to within one mile; and
15 . makes technical changes.
16 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 53A-17a-127, as last amended by Chapter 73, Laws of Utah 2001
23
24 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25 Section 1. Section 53A-17a-127 is amended to read:
26 53A-17a-127. Eligibility for state-supported transportation -- Approved bus
27 routes -- Additional local tax.

28 (1) A student eligible for state-supported transportation means:
29 (a) a student enrolled in kindergarten through grade six who lives at least [1-1/2 miles]
30 one mile from school;
31 (b) a student enrolled in grades seven through 12 who lives at least two miles from
32 school; and
33 (c) a student enrolled in a special program offered by a school district and approved by
34 the State Board of Education for trainable, motor, multiple-disabled, or other students with
35 severe disabilities who are incapable of walking to school or where it is unsafe for students to
36 walk because of their disabling condition, without reference to distance from school.
37 (2) If a school district implements double sessions as an alternative to new building
38 construction, with the approval of the State Board of Education, those affected elementary
39 school students residing less than [1-1/2 miles] one mile from school may be transported one
40 way to or from school because of safety factors relating to darkness or other hazardous
41 conditions as determined by the local school board.
42 (3) (a) The State Office of Education shall distribute transportation monies to school
43 districts based on three factors:
44 (i) an allowance per mile for approved bus routes;
45 (ii) an allowance per hour for approved bus routes; and
46 (iii) an annual allowance for equipment and overhead costs based on approved bus
47 routes and the age of the equipment.
48 (b) In order for a bus to be considered for the equipment allowance, it must meet
49 federal and state regulations and standards for school buses.
50 (c) The State Office of Education shall annually review the allowance per mile, the
51 allowance per hour, and the annual equipment and overhead allowance and adjust the
52 allowance to reflect current economic conditions.
53 (4) (a) Approved bus routes for funding purposes shall be determined on fall data
54 collected by October 1.
55 (b) Approved route funding shall be determined on the basis of the most efficient and
56 economic routes.
57 (5) A Transportation Advisory Committee with representation from local school
58 superintendents, business officials, school district transportation supervisors, and the State

59 Office of Education shall serve as a review committee for addressing school transportation
60 needs, including recommended approved bus routes.
61 (6) (a) A local school board may provide for the transportation of students who are not
62 eligible under Subsection (1), regardless of the distance from school, from:
63 (i) general funds of the district; and
64 (ii) a tax rate not to exceed .0003 per dollar of taxable value imposed on the district.
65 (b) A local school board may use revenue from the tax to pay for transporting
66 participating students to interscholastic activities, night activities, and educational field trips
67 approved by the board and for the replacement of school buses.
68 (c) (i) If a local school board levies a tax under Subsection (6)(a)(ii) of at least .0002,
69 the state may contribute an amount not to exceed 85% of the state average cost per mile,
70 contingent upon the Legislature appropriating funds for a state contribution.
71 (ii) The State Office of Education shall distribute the state contribution according to
72 rules enacted by the State Board of Education.
73 (d) (i) The amount of state guarantee money to which a school district would otherwise
74 be entitled to under Subsection (6)(c) may not be reduced for the sole reason that the district's
75 levy is reduced as a consequence of changes in the certified tax rate under Section 59-2-924
76 due to changes in property valuation.
77 (ii) Subsection (6)(d)(i) applies for a period of two years following the change in the
78 certified tax rate.
79 [(7) There is appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, $225,000 to the
80 state board as the state's contribution under Subsection (6)(c)(i).]




Legislative Review Note
as of 12-19-05 9:00 AM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel